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"When I was a child we could go out to play, but when you're an adult and you've got kids, you worry.

"There is no nice way to put it, you don't want to live next door to paedophiles.

"There is a playing court opposite my house but I can't let my kids out to play unless there is an adult at all times."

"It's a desperate place"

One mum, who lived in the area for 15 years, wants the hostel to move sites.

The mum, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "I moved from what I thought was a high crime area to find out I'm across from a sex offenders' hostel.

"They can throw in one or two burglars and they're allowed to be there.

"There have been attacks previously because of the bail hostel, you can't put sex offenders near here.

"I am a vegan and wouldn't hurt a spider but if I found out they did something to my children, I would want to kill them."

Residents are concerned the hostel is close to a park, three schools and a nursery

The mum, who is in her late 40s, also said her children were 'imprisoned' in their own home due to the increase of crime in the area around Felmores.

"It's a desperate place," she said.

"My children were self-imprisoned and were too scared to go out. I used to really worry about them.

"My children have taken a lot of flack. You don't think about going to the police, and I think about whether I will have to fix this myself one day, something so drastic that I end up in custody myself.

"You feel helpless and powerless."

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The 36-year-old explained: "The bail hostel has been there for many years now, I know people think it is a problem but I haven't come across anything.

"I feel they don't have a good site for it and any place they want to move it to will have someone with an objection.

"You get crime everywhere and it can feel like it's on the rise. I don't let my children out because of drug-related issues and people walking around in a state."

Jodie, who has lived in the area for several years, added: "I have a ten-year-old, six-year-old, and a one-year-old but with everything going on with people being stabbed in the park, I don't want to let my children out alone.

What is Felmores bail hostel?

No.1 Felmores is an approved probation and bail hostel, meaning that the Secretary of State for Justice has approved the site to allow offenders, who are not dispersed straight into communities on release from prison, to be monitored and managed there.

Felmores can accommodate up to 26 male offenders.

There may also be men placed there who are on bail awaiting trial or sentence, or are subject to a community sentence.

"People have died in that park, what if my ten-year-old is out playing, in his own little world, but stumbles across a body?

"That is more of an issue at the moment than the bail hostel, they need to offer the people there mental health support."

Where is the bail hostel?

The bail hostel is on the Felmores housing estate close to Northlands Park. It sits opposite Malyons Pre School, and is a short walking distance to Briscoe Primary School and Nursery, Surestart Northlands Park and Felmore Primary School.

Why hasn't the bail hostel been moved?

Over the past few years, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Basildon Council have tried to find a more suitable site for the hostel, formally known as an Approved Premise (AP).

In 2015, the council worked with the MoJ to relocate the hostel with alternative sites considered inside the borough as well as in neighbouring council areas, "but no suitable site was identified".

Then, in July 2017, the former Policy and Resources Committee approved a plan to finance site searches for the relocation. Again however, the potential sites were also deemed "not suitable".

The committee report stated last year: "The Felmores AP is located on the edge of the Felmores housing estate, and considerable concern has been raised by residents for many years that this facility is not suitable in such a residential location."

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A £50,000 sum was allocated for the site search as well as to pay for design work if a new location was found suitable, unfortunately this was not the case.

Approved premises need to be within practical reach of probation staff, employment opportunities and offending behaviour, according to the MoJ.

Last year, HMI Probation published a report on the effectiveness of Approved Premises, like Felmores Bail Hostel, stating premises were doing a 'good job' and noting public protection procedures 'were exceptionally managed'.

What do the MoJ have to say?

"Approved Premises are essential to managing high risk offenders when they leave prison ensuring they are suitably supervised and monitored, greatly lowering their risk to the public.

“If an Approved Premise were to close the high risk offenders would still be living in the community but without the added supervision and support they provide.”

Police say that there are 'lots of positives'

Essex Police have responded to the claims and implemented a patrol plan for the area over the weekend

“The Community Policing Team regularly engage with residents on the Felmores Estate in a number of ways including street initiatives and through our ‘Coffee with Cops’ meetings.

“A meeting was held in Pitsea last month where Essex Police, local councillors, and Basildon District Council executives discussed issues in the area.

“Crime is rising across the country and Pitsea is no different.

How much has crime increased in Felmores?

“There’s been lots of positives too as during the period of June to August this year there were falls in reports of burglary, drug offences, weapon offences, robbery, arson and criminal damage compared to the same time last year.

“We have a number of operations covering the Felmores Estate including Op Quiet tackling anti-social behaviour, Op Roman to tackle burglary and has seen offences fall from 55 between June and August to 33 during the same time this year, and Op Reconsider addressing the issue of vehicle-related anti-social behaviour.

“Our Operation Raptor team tackles drug and street gangs across the county and are prolific bringing offenders to justice.”

Chief inspector announces patrol plan for the area

The man was found collapsed in Northlands Park, Basildon

Police have also said they're investigating witness accounts of a 'double-mugging' by Felmores School which took place earlier in the week.

Acting chief inspector Parry added: “We are currently investigating two robberies in Felmores End on October 2 and those enquiries are ongoing.

“I understand this type of incident can cause concern among people living in the area but it is not common and we’ve actually seen reports of this type of offence fall by 17 per cent. I have put in place a patrol plan for the area over the weekend and we will continue to work with our partners to keep residents safe.”

He continued: “It’s really important that people report incidents to us. It gives us a true reflection of where the biggest issues are and is vital in helping us decide where we should be focusing our resources. Essex Police will soon be benefiting from 150 extra officers and 12 of those will be coming here to Basildon.

“Although Northlands Park has been the scene of some significant incidents and arrests over the past few years, we are not receiving any increased reports of crime in this area.

“We continue to encourage residents to report their concerns to us by calling 101 or let us know about crime they’ve witnessed in this area, or throughout Basildon, through our website: www.essex.police.uk/do-it-online.”